Plasmonic Bloch oscillations in cylindrical metal-dielectric waveguide arrays

This study investigates plasmonic Bloch oscillations (PBOs) in cylindrical metal-dielectric waveguide arrays (MDWAs) by performing numerical simulations and theoretical analyses. Optical conformal mapping is used to transform cylindrical MDWAs into equivalent chirped structures with permittivity and permeability gradients across the waveguide arrays, which is caused by the curvature of the cylindrical waveguide. The PBOs are attributed to the transformed structure. The period of oscillation increases with the wavelength of the incident Gaussian beam. However, the amplitude of oscillation is almost independent of wavelength.     

Optically induced zener tunneling in one-dimensional lattices

We investigate Landau-Zener tunneling in one-dimensional liquid crystalline waveguide arrays by all-optical impression of acceleration with an additional beam. We derive the Zener model from the governing equations and demonstrate a novel approach to Floquet-Bloch band tunneling.     

Tunable hybridization at midzone and anomalous Bloch-Zener oscillations in optical waveguide ladders

We have studied the optical oscillation and tunneling of light waves in optical waveguide ladders (OWLs) formed by two coupled planar optical waveguide arrays. For the band structure, a midzone gap is formed owing to band hybridization, and its wavenumber position can be tuned throughout the whole Brillouin zone, which is different from the Bragg gap. By imposing a gradient in the propagation constant in each array, Bloch-Zener oscillation (BZO) is realized with Zener tunneling between the bands occurring at the midzone, which is contrary to the common BZO with tunneling at the center or edge of the Brillouin zone. The occurrence of BZO is demonstrated by using the field-evolution analysis. The tunable hybridization at the midzone enhances the tunability of BZO in the OWLs. This Letter may offer new insights into the coherent phenomena in optical lattices.     

Subwavelength discrete solitons in nonlinear metamaterials

We present the first study of subwavelength discrete solitons in nonlinear metamaterials: nanoscaled periodic structures consisting of metal and nonlinear dielectric slabs. The solitons supported by such media result from a balance between tunneling of surface plasmon modes and nonlinear self-trapping. The dynamics in such systems, arising from the threefold interplay between periodicity, nonlinearity, and surface plasmon polaritons, is substantially different from that in conventional nonlinear dielectric waveguide arrays. We expect these phenomena to inspire fundamental studies as well as potential applications of nonlinear metamaterials, particularly in subwavelength nonlinear optics.     

Optical Bloch oscillation and resonant Zener tunneling in one-dimensional quasi-period structures containing single negative materials

We studied the optical Bloch oscillation and resonant Zener tunneling in macroscopic quasi-period structures of alternatively stratified single negative and dielectric slabs. By a decrease in the thicknesses of the dielectric slabs, the electronic potential of crystals subjected to external dc electric fields is mimicked and the optical Wannier-Stark ladder (WSL) is realized. Both scattering states and the time-resolved transmission of a short pulse are provided to show the existence of the optical analogue of electronic Bloch oscillation. At a critical gradient, the resonant photon Zener tunneling is demonstrated both from the amplitude and the time delay in the transmitted signal of a short pulse.     

Visual observation of Zener tunneling

We experimentally investigate photonic Zener tunneling between the bands of a waveguide array by directly monitoring the propagating light inside this structure. For strong transverse index gradients we observe Zener breakdown as regular outbursts of radiation escaping from the Bloch oscillations. Tunneling to higher order photonic bands and Bloch oscillations in different bands have been detected.     

Ground-state decay rate for the Zener breakdown in band and Mott insulators

Nonlinear transport of electrons in strong electric fields, as typified by dielectric breakdown, is reformulated in terms of the ground-state decay rate originally studied by Schwinger in nonlinear QED. We discuss the effect of electron interaction on Zener tunneling by comparing the dielectric breakdown of the band insulator and the Mott insulator, where the latter is studied by the time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group. The relation with the Berry's phase theory of polarization is also established.     

Observation of coherent destruction of tunneling and unusual beam dynamics due to negative coupling in three-dimensional photonic lattices

We demonstrate coherent destruction of tunneling (CDT) in optically induced three-dimensional photonic lattices. By fine-tuning the lattice modulation, we show unusual behavior of beam propagation, including light tunneling inhibition, anomalous diffraction, and negative refraction mediated by zero or negative coupling in the waveguide arrays. Image transmission based on CDT is also proposed and demonstrated. Our experimental results are in good agreement with our theoretical analyses.     

Nonadiabatic Landau-Zener tunneling in waveguide arrays with a step in the refractive index

Landau-Zener tunneling is discussed in connection with optical waveguide arrays. Light injected in a specific band of the Bloch spectrum in the propagation constant can be transmitted to another band, changing its physical properties. This can be achieved using two coupled waveguide arrays with different refractive indices. The step in the refractive index causes wave "acceleration" and thus induces strongly nonadiabatic Landau-Zener tunneling. Theoretically, the analysis is performed by considering a Schr?dinger equation in a periodic potential with a step. The region of physical parameters where this phenomenon can occur is analytically determined and a realistic experimental setup is suggested. Its application could allow the realization of light filters.     

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT–cement composites

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and cement composites of 0–3 connectivity were produced using PZT of 30–90% by volume. The effects of PZT on dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the composites were then investigated. The dielectric constant (ε_r) of the composites was found to increase with increasing PZT content. The ε_r value of 90% PZT composite obtained was 291 which is noticeably higher than that of PC sample (ε_r = 79). The dielectric loss (tan δ) was found to decrease with PZT content and the tan δ value was lowest at 0.63 for 90% PZT composite. Piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) was found to increase with PZT content as expected. However, the effects were most significant at two stages, first at 30% PZT volume content (14 pC/N) and then at very high PZT content (90% by volume) where d₃₃ value reached 43 pC/N.     

Bloch oscillations and Zener tunneling in two-dimensional photonic lattices

We report on the first experimental observation of photonic Bloch oscillations and Zener tunneling in two-dimensional periodic systems. We study the propagation of an optical beam in a square lattice superimposed on a refractive index ramp. We observe oscillations of the beam inside the first Brilloin zone and tunneling of light from the first to the higher-order bands of the lattice band gap spectrum.     

Tight-binding model of spin-polarized tunnelling in (Ga,Mn)As-based structures

The Landauer–Büttiker formalism combined with the tight-binding transfer matrix method is used to describe the results of recent experiments: the high tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) in (Ga,Mn)As-based trilayers and highly polarized spin injection in p-(Ga,Mn)As/n-GaAs Zener diode. For both TMR and Zener spin current polarization, the calculated values agree well with those observed experimentally. The role played in the spin dependent tunneling by carrier concentration and magnetic ion content is also studied.     

Wannier–Stark resonances in Zener tunneling diodes with GaAs/AlAs superlattices

We present DC transport measurements of the valence to conduction band (Zener) tunneling current in ap–i–ndiode with an ultrathin intrinsic layer containing a (GaAs)₅/(AlAs)₂multi-quantum well structure. According to recent theoretical predictions, the DC current should show maxima as a function of the reverse bias voltage that reflect the formation of Wannier–Stark resonances. So far, Wannier–Stark resonances have only been observed optically and never in a regime of strong Zener tunneling. Experimentally, we find the second derivative of the current-voltage characteristics to show a weak oscillatory structure indeed, indicating the existence of Wannier–Stark resonances in Zener tunneling.     

Design and analysis of two-dimensional photonic crystals channel filter

A novel three-port channel add/drop filter consisting of two waveguides and two cavities is proposed. One is used for a resonant tunneling-based channel add/drop operation from the bus waveguide to the add/drop waveguide, while the other is used to realize the wavelength-selective reflection feedback in the bus waveguide. By means of coupled mode theory in time, the conditions to achieve 100% add efficiency are derived thoroughly. Based on these theoretical analysis, the channel add filter and some other multi-channel filters are designed in two-dimensional photonic crystals (2D PCs) with square lattice of dielectric rods in air. The numerical results by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method demonstrate almost complete channel add/drop tunneling at resonance via the three-port systems.     

Light propagation in nonuniform plasmonic subwavelength waveguide arrays

We study light propagation in nanoscale periodic structures composed of dielectric and metal in the visible range. We demonstrate that diffraction curves of nonuniform waveguide arrays can be tailored by varying the geometric and dielectric features of the waveguides. The results obtained from a proper formulation of coupled mode theory for nonuniform arrays are validated through numerical solution of Maxwell equations in frequency domain.     

Decay control via discrete-to-continuum coupling modulation in an optical waveguide system

Control of optical tunneling via modulation of the coupling to the continuum is experimentally reported in femtosecond laser written waveguide arrays. The experiment demonstrates for optical tunneling in photonic lattices the universal mechanism of decay control recently proposed for quantum systems by Kofman and Kurizki [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 270405 (2001)]. In particular, we prove that the formation of a dressed discrete-continuum bound state in the regime of fractional decay can be suppressed by dynamic modulation of discrete-to-continuum coupling.     

Coupled THz Waveguide Utilizing Surface Plasmon Polaritons on Thin Dielectric Slab Sandwiched between Two Corrugated Metallic Claddings

We present a comprehensive experimental study of terahertz （THz） wave propagation utilizing surface plasmon polaritons （SPPs） on the interfaces of a thin dielectric core layer sandwiched between two corrugated metallic claddings. THz wave impinges on the structured surfaces at normal incidence. Long-lasting oscillation propagation features are observed in the temporal waveform after traveling through the periodic arrays. The enhanced THz transmission can be achieved due to the coupling between incident waves to SPPs at the bottom and top interfaces. The finite element method is used to simulate the field distribution and the transmission mode in the waveguide. The hybrid waveguide with low absorption has great potential applications in THz integrated devices.     

Waveguide mode converter based on two-dimensional photonic crystals

We propose and numerically analyze a novel mode converter based on two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides with square arrays of cylindrical dielectric rods in air. The mode converter uses small perturbation defects to decouple various modes in the multimode waveguide, thereby permitting propagation of only one mode at any given frequency, which permits one-to-one mode conversion without exciting unwanted modes. The mode converter can efficiently convert a TM0 mode supported in a single-mode photonic crystal waveguide into a TM2 mode supported in the multimode waveguide that is laterally coupled to the single-mode waveguide section for a wide wavelength range. Influences of different sizes and positions of perturbation rods on the band structure of the multimode waveguide are studied.     

Nonlinear dynamics of semiclassical spin in a time-dependent magnetic field

The dynamics of magnetic nanoclusters (or molecules) with a large spin in a magnetic field whose strength varies in proportion to time is analyzed. Such a field breaks the symmetry relative to rotations through 2π, as well as clockwise and counterclockwise rotations, and induces a number of new coherent quantum effects in the spin dynamics, such as the formation of a band energy spectrum with continuous spin states or the emergence of “Bloch” oscillations in spin precession and interband Zener tunneling. Bloch oscillations are manifested in experiment as equidistant identical jumps on the magnetization curve. The interband Zener tunneling gives rise to additional jumps and peaks on the susceptibility of the system.     

Selective suppression of extinction within the plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles

We present extinction measurements on rectangular two-dimensional arrays of gold nanoparticles on a dielectric waveguide. The spectra exhibit spectrally narrow bands of suppressed extinction within the particle–plasmon resonance, resulting from destructive interference between the incident light field and the excited waveguide modes. The dependence of the spectral position of these high-transmission bands on different waveguide modes is investigated in detail. Received: 3 July 2001 / Published online: 10 October 2001